Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 10 seconds.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), who is an appropriator. She is and has been valuable in our discussions of this bill and getting the completion of these bills in an orderly and timely way.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, as we close debate on this important package, I want to thank the many hardworking staff who made this possible. While there are too many to name them all, many thanks to my staff at the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee; my entire committee staff led by Staff Director Shalanda Young, Deputy Staff Director Chris Bigelow, and to the minority staff as well. To the extraordinary staff in my congressional office, I want to express my appreciation because it is teamwork that brought us to this point. Madam Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 326, a resolution that reaffirms the House of Representatives' longstanding support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Throughout my life and my 31 years serving in this great body, I have never lost hope that there will one day be two states for two peoples-- a democratic Jewish state of Israel and a democratic Palestinian state living side by side in peace, security, and mutual recognition. We cannot be naive. This will not be easy. Gaza continues to be run by Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for attacks on Israel and the suffering of Palestinians in their borders. The Palestinian Authority has been a poor partner for peace, walking away from reasonable peace plans and the negotiating table altogether. And rhetoric from the Israeli Government officials about unilateral annexation pushes a future, negotiated solution farther from reality.

Mrs. LOWEY. But we cannot and we must not lose hope. Simply put, a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians is the only means to ensure Israel's long-term security and enable Palestinian aspirations for their own state. I thank my colleagues whose hard work brought this important resolution to the floor, and I urge immediate passage.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 708, I call up the bill (H.R. 3055) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3055.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. While the House did its work and passed 12 appropriations bills through committee and 10 appropriations bills off the floor, delays in the Senate mean the appropriations process is behind. With just days until current stopgap funding expires, we must pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open and fund key priorities as we negotiate subcommittee allocations and then finalize individual appropriation bills. This legislation avoids controversial policies and instead contains provisions that reflect shared priorities, including bipartisan language to fully fund a fair and accurate 2020 decennial Census, a 3.1 percent pay raise for our military, and language to prevent a rescission of $7.6 billion in highway funding. In addition to these provisions, the CR includes a package of extenders that will keep health programs critical to American families up and running. By extending these programs and government funding through December 20, this CR will allow additional time to negotiate and enact responsible long-term funding for priorities that make our country safer and stronger and give working families a better chance at a better life. Mr. Speaker, even as we pass this CR today, American families, businesses, and communities need the certainty of full-year funding. To complete the appropriations process, we must first settle allocations with the Senate Republicans. Only by coming together in good faith can we enact responsible full-year spending bills that invest for the people and give every American a better chance at a better life. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) and I ask unanimous consent that she be allowed to control that time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the New York-Presbyterian Westchester Division, as it celebrated its 125th anniversary on October 25, 2019. Located in the City of White Plains, New York-Presbyterian Westchester Division provides critical mental health care services to New York metro area children, adolescents, adults and seniors. The facility is staffed by Weill Cornell Medicine clinicians, who work diligently to study mental illness, provide patient-centered care, and promote activities that support mental health healing. Housed in gracious buildings across 200 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the hospital offers patients a tranquil environment to receive the care they need and deserve. For its high quality of services and commitment to its patients, NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Division has received national recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition program. The facility was also the first behavioral health hospital in the nation to be formally named by Planetree Inc., an international non-profit promoting the development and implantation of innovative, patient centered models of care delivery, as ``Gold Certified for Excellence in Person-Centered Care.'' New York-Presbyterian Westchester Division has been an invaluable partner in making the City of White Plains and the surrounding area a healthier and more prosperous community. Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow members of Congress to join me in expressing both congratulations and thanks to the past and current employees and supporters of New York-Presbyterian Westchester Division for their 125 years of distinguished service to our community.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor William M. Mooney, Jr. as he prepares for his retirement from the Westchester County Association (WCA), where he currently serves as President and CEO. First elected to head the Westchester County Association in 2004, Bill Mooney has distinguished himself as one of the premier advocates for the Lower Hudson Valley's business and banking communities. Under Bill's steadfast leadership, the WCA transformed from a network of business interests to a formidable organization focused on fostering economic growth and development in Westchester County and beyond. Counted among Bill's numerous accomplishments are helping to launch The Blueprint for Westchester, a groundbreaking campaign that resulted in the repurposing, reactivation, and redevelopment of millions of square feet of underutilized space in Westchester County. With Bill at the helm, the WCA also managed a $9.8 million federal workforce development grant--the largest such grant in the history of Westchester County--resulting in hundreds of jobs for Hudson Valley residents. Beyond his prowess as a business leader, Bill has always been dedicated to giving back to the community. Bill's philanthropic efforts have directly benefitted the United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties, the American Heart Walk, the Westchester Partnership for Economic Development, the Red Cross of Rockland County, and countless other non-profits and educational organizations. Bill Mooney has dedicated his career to making Westchester County a desirable place in which to live and work. Bill's achievements have left an indelible mark on the lives of so many, and his legacy will be remembered long after he leaves the WCA. Thanks to his tireless efforts, William M. Mooney, Jr.'s prediction that Westchester County's best days lie ahead seems certain to come true.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Rotary Club of White Plains, New York, as the institution celebrates its 100th anniversary on Saturday, October 19. Established on October 1, 1919, the Rotary Club of White Plains was the 540th club charged by Rotary International and among the earliest Rotary clubs in Westchester County. The club focuses on raising funds to help local charities continue the critical, often challenging, work of helping those in need in the City of White Plains and across the Lower Hudson Valley. In addition to local efforts, including scholarship programs to support White Plains area college students and sponsoring the Glen D. Loucks Memorial Track and Field Games, the Rotary Club of White Plains' philanthropic work has expanded internationally. The group has made crucial contributions to the reconstruction and redevelopment efforts in the City of Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador, after the city's infrastructure was greatly damaged by an El Nino storm in 1998. The Rotary Club of White Plains has been an invaluable partner in making the City of White Plains and the surrounding area a healthier and more prosperous community. Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow members of Congress to join me in expressing both congratulations and thanks to the Rotary Club of White Plains and its former and current leaders and members for their century of distinguished service to our community.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Rotary Club of Peekskill, New York, as the institution celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday, October 17. Established in 1919, the Peekskill Rotary Club was the 547th club charged by Rotary International and among the earliest Rotary clubs in Westchester County. The club focuses on raising funds to help local charities continue the critical, often challenging, work of helping those in need in the City of Peekskill and across the Lower Hudson Valley. The more than 10,000 people who attend the club's annual fundraiser at Peekskill High School are a testament to the widespread support for the club's contributions to our community. A highlight of its 10 decades of service was the Rotary's involvement in recovery efforts after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Rotary volunteers assisted the Salvation Army in coordinating the delivery of supplies to workers at Ground Zero and raised funds for the families of the four victims who were Peekskill residents. The club also designated a memorial monument and tree to those four individuals at Riverfront Green Park on July 4, 2002. The Rotary Club of Peekskill has been an invaluable partner in making the Lower Hudson Valley a healthier and more prosperous community. Madam, Speaker, I urge my fellow members of Congress to join me in expressing both congratulations and thanks to the Rotary Club of Peekskill and its past and current members for their century of service to our community.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Rockland Community College as the institution begins a year-long celebration of its 60th anniversary this month. Six decades ago, a group of community leaders boldly transformed an old almshouse and 27 acres of farm land into an institution of higher education. Since then, Rockland Community College has provided quality, affordable education to students of all ages and been an important resource to the residents of the Lower Hudson Valley. The institution's motto--``to learn, to search, to serve''--has guided students in their academic journeys ensuring they are supported every step of the way. With more than 500 full and part-time faculty members, support and one-on-one help is readily available to all students. Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in expressing congratulations and thanks to both former and current Rockland Community College administrators, Board members, faculty, staff and students for making and keeping the college such a vibrant part of our community for 60 years.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Daphne and Bob Philipson, recipients of the 2019 Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) Legacy Award, in recognition of their substantial years of community involvement and active volunteerism. Daphne Philipson, CPA, has served multiple stints on the PPHP board, first from 1999 through 2006, then from 2008 through 2012. She has also served on PPHP Executive, Board Development and Nominating, Budget and Finance, and Fundraising Committees. She was a partner at E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co., where she headed investor relations. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Business School and Barnard College, where she currently serves on the board of trustees. As a teenager, Bob Philipson developed a passion for ensuring access to family planning through reading about Marie Stopes and was a strong supporter of the legalization of abortion in the United Kingdom. He went on to graduate with a degree in Politics and Economics at Durham University's Hatfield College and subsequently held positions in a number of companies in the UK, Belgium, Sweden and the U.S. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998 and became active in Democratic politics, serving as Treasurer and Chairman of the Irvington Democrats. He spent many years escorting at clinics that provided abortion services and demonstrating and lobbying in support of Planned Parenthood. He continues his activism to this day. The advocacy and commitment of community members like Daphne and Bob Philipson is a crucial element of the fight to ensure that every woman, and man, in America has access to the reproductive and preventative health care they need. I'm proud to be a partner with the Philipsons and Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in this effort, and I thank them for their diligent work. Madam Speaker, l urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Mr. and Mrs. Philipson for their many years of service to the community.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the President's fake national emergency is an end run around this Congress' power of the purse and an offense to the Constitution. As the Committee on Appropriations chair, I am outraged that this President has canceled $3.6 billion in military construction projects to pay for a wasteful wall. I want to repeat: $3.6 billion in military construction projects to pay for a wasteful wall. The President chose his wall over our national security and the needs of our servicemembers and their families. Congressional Democrats have repeatedly made clear, including in our appropriations bills, that we will not give this President a blank check by backfilling these projects. Terminating the President's fake national emergency declaration is the only way to restore the 127 projects whose funding the President stole. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life, accomplishments and contributions of Dr. Thomas K. Weber of Chappaqua, New York. Dr. Weber passed away on September 15, 2019, after a brief, but fierce battle with a rare and very aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Today would have been his 65th birthday. Dr. Weber was a surgeon, researcher and visionary leader in relentless pursuit of the goal to save lives from colorectal cancer. Dr. Weber served as the Director of Surgical Oncology of the Northwest Region, Northwell Health and Medical Co-Director of Cancer Genetics at Northern Westchester Hospital, Northwell Health. Until 2018 he was a Full Academic Professor of Surgery at SUNY Downstate and Surgeon-in-Chief at VA New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Weber's career includes significant accomplishments in multiple arenas including clinical surgical leadership, academic appointments, mentoring of young investigators, and international recognition for innovation and leadership in cancer prevention and collaborative translational cancer research. In addition to his clinical and academic appointments he led at least 10 national and international organizations, such as the National Colorectal Cancer Round Table, the Collaborative Group of the Americas and the NYC Health Department sponsored ``Citywide Colorectal Cancer Control Coalition'' (C5). Dr. Weber was an early and passionate advocate for addressing the early age onset colorectal cancer (EAOCRC) issue. He organized and chaired the nation's first Summit focused on EAOCRC and was instrumental in the American Cancer Society's 2018 recommendation that Americans be screened for colorectal cancer at the age of 45 instead of 50. He published extensively on hereditary and early age onset colorectal cancer and was a frequently invited speaker on both subjects at national and international meetings. Dr. Weber was a pillar of the colorectal cancer community and has been recognized for his philanthropic leadership and contributions. He founded New York City's first colon cancer awareness event in 2003, the Colon Cancer Challenge, which led to the formation of the Colon Cancer Foundation. With Dr. Weber at the helm, the Foundation supported research into the causes, potential cures and most effective treatments for colorectal cancer. The Foundation has increased public awareness of the disease, educated the public about the importance of early detection, and advocated on behalf of thousands of colorectal cancer patients and their families. He has been recognized for his leadership in public health, cancer control and research by New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, the Health Department of New York State, the AliveAndKickn Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and the National Institutes of Health. Year after year, Dr. Weber would travel to Washington to meet with lawmakers, including members of my staff and myself, to discuss the importance of scientific research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), removing barriers to colorectal cancer screening, and other priorities in the health care community. Dr. Weber leaves behind a remarkable legacy of civic and community engagement. Individuals suffering from colorectal cancer and their families are better off today because of his work. He is survived by his loving wife Clare, sons Luke and Nick, sister Jeannie and her husband David Aplin, and family. Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Dr. Weber's many years of service to the community and in sending our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 564, I call up the bill (H.R. 4378) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, while the House did its work and passed 12 appropriations bills through committee and 10 off the floor, the Senate appropriations process is far behind. Because of this delay, we must pass a continuing resolution to avoid another government shutdown like the one that started late last year which caused real harm to our economy and to hardworking Americans. With less than 2 weeks until the end of the fiscal year, a clean continuing resolution that keeps government open and funds key priorities is so important. This legislation avoids controversial policy provisions that have slowed down the appropriations process and that, if included, would jeopardize passage. For example, it does not include an anomaly requested by the Trump administration to allow wall building outside the Rio Grande Valley. At the same time, the CR contains provisions that reflect shared priorities, including allowing the Census Bureau to ramp up preparations for the 2020 decennial Census, extending funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for another year, ensuring that FEMA disaster relief can be spent as quickly as needed to effectively respond to disasters, ensuring the Department of Agriculture can operate rural water and waste loan programs, and extending the National Flood Insurance Program and authorization for the Export-Import Bank. In addition to these provisions, extenders that have been negotiated by my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees will keep health programs that are critical to American families up and running. By extending these programs and government funding through November 21, this CR will allow additional time to negotiate our differences and enact responsible long-term funding for priorities that help make our country safer and stronger. As we negotiate, families, businesses, and communities across the country will have much-needed budget certainty with no disruption to vital services or to the pay of Federal employees. After we pass this CR and the Senate moves forward with their process, Democrats will negotiate responsible appropriations bills that uphold our values and give working families a better chance at a better life. Keeping government open and providing certainty for our communities must be a top priority. Our continuing resolution is a necessary step to that end. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader.